Medical experts may be used to identify doctor errors in claims

On behalf of Law Offices of Judy Snyder posted in Doctor Errors on Monday, December 21, 2015.

Many Oregon readers would agree that understanding medical procedures and terminology can be a challenge. For this reason, most malpractice claims alleging doctor errors require an appropriate medical expert to review the case and provide an opinion regarding whether the doctor made a mistake. The expert's testimony can be invaluable in explaining what went wrong to the court and/or a jury.

An out-of-state man recently filed a medical malpractice claim, alleging that he now suffers from chronic pain and permanent injury due to an error made by his doctor. He complained of back pain and was given nerve blocks over the course of several weeks. When it appeared that the treatment was not resolving his pain, the doctor performed a chemical nerve ablation, which is designed to block the pain receptors in certain nerves to relieve pain.

The Illinois man alleges that after the treatment, his pain increased instead of getting better. Reportedly, he suffered distension and swelling in his abdomen. He blames his current condition on the ablation. A medical expert was brought in to see if his assumption was correct. The expert witness concurred with his assessment and indicated that the procedure was improper under the circumstances.

Whether that expert's testimony will sway the court remains to be seen. This kind of testimony often provides compelling evidence in cases involving doctor errors. Due to the complexity of these cases, Oregon residents often rely upon medical experts in their medical malpractice claims to render an opinion. Not only would such an opinion be needed to confirm that an error occurred, but also to make the circumstances less of a challenge to understand in court.

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The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.